Removable Jacket Sleeves For Body Armor

ABSTRACT

A separating garment system has two sleeves and a chest piece and collar that can be opened. The chest piece having a front and a back and having a length in the front and the back such that the chest piece extends downward on a wearer so as to cover no more than a chest of a wearer. The chest piece also may not extend under the arms of the wearer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based upon and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/489,971, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Prior designs for garments require that a user wear a traditional jacket, or several layers of conventional garments under body armor in order to stay warm. Once donned, and covered with body armor, load bearing equipment, weapons slings, and other layers, the garments cannot be easily removed. U.S. Pat. No. 7,636,948, issued Dec. 29, 2009, is for a “combat shirt and armor system,” but the garment is not designed to be insulating or worn for warmth, nor can it be removed without first removing the body armor. U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,376, issued Jul. 17, 2007, is for a “cut away vest” that does separate into pieces but only covers the torso, without long sleeves. Additionally, this patent specifies the use of several lanyards, grommets, loops, and other devices that would be difficult to re-assemble while walking or in the dark, and is not designed to be worn for insulation or warmth. Traditional jackets are too bulky to be worn under a tight-fitting ballistic armor vest. While body armor is typically quite thick and heavy, it leaves the neck and arms of the wearer exposed to the elements.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a garment that can be worn in conjunction with ballistic protective apparel to provide the user with comfortable and relatively comprehensive protection from the elements, and which can be easily donned and removed without requiring removal of the body armor or other equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the back of the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a frontal perspective view of the back of the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention shown worn with body armor;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the back of the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention shown worn with body armor;

FIG. 5 shows the first step of removing the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention when worn with body armor;

FIG. 6 shows the second step of removing the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention when worn with body armor;

FIG. 7 shows the second step of removing the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention when worn with body armor;

FIG. 8 is a frontal perspective of an alternate design of the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a frontal perspective of an alternate design of the jacket sleeves for body armor of the present invention, shown worn with body armor;

FIGS. 10-15 are different views of an ornamental design for a garment made in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 16-21 are directed to an alternative embodiment of a garment made in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIGS. 1 and 2, where like numbers refer to similar parts, there is shown a garment that includes of two sleeves 19 and 20, joined by a chest piece 21. One sleeve 19 is permanently attached to the chest piece 21, while the other sleeve 20 is attached by an attachment device 22, such as a zipper, snaps, or hook and loop material (i.e. Velcro®.

In one embodiment, the sleeves 19 and 20 include pockets 25 sewn to the external surface of the upper arm area, or other features as desired by the wearer. Such other features may include elastic cuffs around the wrists, with or without thumb-holes, and other features not pictured here for clarity.

The chest piece 21 includes a raised collar 23, which extends upwardly to cover at least a portion of the neck of the wearer. Both the chest piece 21 and collar 23 are split down the front by a fastened seam 24, such as a zipper, snaps, hook and loop material (i.e. Velcro®) or other similar device.

The sleeves 19 and 20 and the chest piece 21 may be constructed of any cloth or flexible material as suitable to the specific thermal insulating, water-repellent or breathable specifications based on the use for the garment. Further, the various components of the garment can be made of different materials as necessary to suit the desired properties of the garment as a whole.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the garment of FIGS. 1 and 2 worn over body armor 30. The body armor 30, the sleeves 19 and 20 and the chest piece 21 with the collar 23 combine to provide the user with nearly complete protection from the elements, in much the same manner as a traditional jacket, covering the arms, torso, and neck.

FIGS. 5-7 show what a user can do when the garment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is worn under the body armor 30 and the user decides to disrobe the garment without removing the body armor 30. Referring now to FIG. 5, the garment can be split at the attachment device 22 (Velcro®, zipper, or other). This may separate the sleeve 20 from the chest piece 21 of the garment. The separated sleeve 20 can be slid down the arm, and removed.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the remaining portions worn subsist of the chest piece 21 with collar 23, and the permanently attached sleeve 19. The wearer is then able to split the fastened seam 24 (Velcro®, zipper, or other), to fully open the chest piece 21 and the collar 23.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the wearer can slide the chest piece 21 with the collar 23 out from under the body armor 30, or any other backpack, rucksack, rifle sling, or other more outwardly worn layer. The wearer can remove the remaining pieces of the garment by sliding the sleeve 19 and the chest piece 21 with the collar 23 down the arm. The pieces are ready to be rejoined at the attachment device 22 with the removable sleeve 20, and are again ready for wear. The wearer may choose to don the garment again over other layers, or remove the others and again don the removable garment before replacing the more outwardly layers such as the body armor 30.

Referring now to the invention shown in FIG. 8, an alternate design for a pair of jacket sleeves 41 for body armor that includes fasteners (e.g., clips, snaps, Velcro®, or buttons) 40 for fastening the garment to body armor is shown. The sleeves 41 includes extra material 42 located at a user's armpit. The extra material 42 may include fasteners or can be tucked inside the body armor 30 when worn.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the pair of jacket sleeves 41 with the fasteners 40 is shown with the fasteners 40 attached to a comparable device located on the body armor 30. The extra material 42 is shown tucked inside the body armor 30 to close any gap between the front and back plates of the body armor. The extra material 42 may also be fastened to the interior or exterior surface of the body armor 30.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that when worn with body armor, it provides the wearer with additional protection from the elements of wind, rain, and cold, and that it is easy to don, and exceedingly easy to remove even after more outwardly layers have been donned, such as rucksacks, body armor, load bearing equipment, and weapons slings. Removing any manner of prior art warm clothing worn in conjunction with body armor usually requires first removing the other layers, a task not easily accomplished when patrolling with tools or weapons in hand, or while on the move. The wearer may then easily don the garment again when needed, without necessitating removal of the aforementioned obstacles of other more outwardly worn layers of equipment.

In one embodiment, the present invention is an accessory for body armor, that provides protection against the elements of wind, rain, snow, and cold in the areas of the upper body that the body armor does not cover. The garment is also designed to be easily removed without being forced to first remove layers that were donned after it.

Referring to FIGS. 10-15, one embodiment of an ornamental design of a garment in accordance with the present disclosure is shown.

Referring to FIGS. 16-21, another embodiment of a garment made in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated. FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of the garment, while FIG. 17 is a back view of the garment. As shown, the garment includes two sleeves 119 and 120 joined by a chest piece 121. The sleeves can be permanently attached to the chest piece or removably attached to the chest piece using an attachment device, such as a zipper or hook and loop material. In another embodiment, one sleeve may be permanently joined to the chest piece, while the other sleeve may be removably attached to the chest piece.

The chest piece 121 includes a raised collar 123 which extends upwardly to cover at least a portion of the neck of a wearer. Both the chest piece 121 and the collar 123 are split down the front by a fastenable seam 124. The fastenable seam 124, for instance, may include any suitable attachment device such as a zipper or hook and loop material.

The sleeves 119 and 120 can include pockets and other surface features, In the embodiment illustrated, the cuffs of each sleeve include hook and loop material for fitting the sleeves snugly around the wrist of a wearer. More particularly, each sleeve includes a tab that may have hook material for attaching to loop material on the sleeve.

The garment may include various reinforcement portions for high wear areas. For instance, as shown in FIG. 17, reinforcement portions 125 may be attached to the sleeves where the elbows are located. The collar 123 can similarly include a reinforcement portion 126.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the chest piece 121 is designed to cover only a portion of a wearer's torso. In particular, the chest piece is intended to cover no more than the chest of a wearer. In one embodiment, the chest piece does not include any underarm support so that the chest piece can be easily removed when the sleeves are slid off the arms. In an alternative embodiment, the chest piece may extend around the chest of the wearer to the back of the wearer below the sleeves.

The garment of the present disclosure and particularly the chest piece 121 can also be designed so that a wearer can easily access modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) that are typically integrated into body armor and/or placed around the waist. In one embodiment, for instance, the chest piece can have a length such that when the chest piece is worn with body armor, the chest piece does not extend past a MOLLE system incorporated into the body armor. Thus, the chest piece can be worn under or over the body armor without interfering with the MOLLE system.

In one embodiment, the garment can be made from a thermal insulating material. For example, in one embodiment, the garment may include an outer shell made from synthetic fibers, such as nylon yarns and/or polyester yarns. The garment may also include a lining made from a fleece for providing thermal insulating properties. The thermal insulating layer, for instance, may have a basis weight of from about 1.5 osy to about 2.5 osy.

In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the chest piece 121 may include an upper portion 130 and a lower portion 132. In one embodiment, the upper portion 130 may comprise a multi-layer section including an outer shell and a thermal insulating layer. The lower portion 132, for instance, may not include the thermal insulating layer and be made solely from the outer shell material. In this manner, the garment may better integrate with body armor.

For instance, by constructing the lower portion 132 from a lightweight material, such as a nylon and/or polyester fabric, the garment can be easily maneuvered especially when the wearer wants to access a MOLLE system. In particular, the wearer can access the MOLLE system without having to remove the garment.

As shown in FIG. 16, the garment can further include a draw cord 134 that can be made from an elastic material. The draw cord 134 can include tightening devices 136 that allow for the draw cord 134 to be tightened against the body of the wearer. In this manner, the garment can fit snugly about the chest of a wearer for non-interfering with the body armor and also for preventing wind or air from entering the garment while the garment is being worn.

The garment can further include attachment structures 138 that may comprise clips that attach the garment to body armor. For instance, the attachment structures may comprise clamps that can attach to the body armor or to a MOLLE system on the body armor. Any suitable clip, clamp or other attachment structure may be used.

In one embodiment, the garment can be made from a fabric that is fire-resistant. For instance, the outer shell fabric may comprise inherently non-flammable fibers, such as meta-aramid or para-aramid fibers. Alternatively, the fabric can include FR treated fibers, such as FR cellulose, FR nylon, or FR polyester. In an alternative embodiment, the outer shell fabric may comprise a fabric that has been treated with a flame retardant composition.

When used by the military or by hunters, the outer shell fabric may also include a camouflage pattern. The camouflage pattern may be printed onto the outer shell fabric.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16-21 can further include all of the features present in the garments illustrated in FIGS. 1-9.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. 

1. A garment comprising: a first sleeve; a second sleeve; and a chest piece joined to the first sleeve and to the second sleeve, the chest piece including a front and a back, the front of the chest piece extending downward on a wearer so as to cover no more than a chest of a wearer.
 2. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the front of the chest piece also extends upwardly to form a raised collar and cover at least a portion of a neck of a wearer.
 3. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the chest piece is split down the front by a seam.
 4. A garment as defined in claim 2, wherein the chest piece and the raised collar are split down the front by a seam.
 5. A garment as defined in claim 3, wherein the seam is fastenable by a zipper.
 6. A garment as defined in claim 3, wherein the seam is fastenable by a hook and loop material.
 7. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one sleeve includes a pocket.
 8. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein each sleeve includes an elastic cuff.
 9. A garment as defined in claim 8, wherein each elastic cuff includes a thumb hole.
 10. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the garment is made from a thermal insulating material.
 11. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the first sleeve, the second sleeve, and the chest piece are water-repellent.
 12. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the first sleeve is permanently attached to the chest piece, the second sleeve being removably attached to the chest piece by an attachment device.
 13. A garment as defined in claim 12, wherein the attachment device comprises a zipper or hook and loop material.
 14. A garment as defined in claim 1, further including body armor, the body armor being worn over the chest piece, the body armor comprising a vest.
 15. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the chest piece does not extend and attach below the sleeves.
 16. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the chest piece includes a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising an outer shell material attached to a thermal insulating material, the bottom portion comprising only the outer shell material.
 17. A protective system comprising the garment as defined in claim 1 in combination with body armor.
 18. The protective system as defined in claim 17, wherein the body armor includes modular lightweight load-carrying equipment, the chest piece having a length that does not extend over the equipment.
 19. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein both the first sleeve and the second sleeve are removably attached to the chest piece.
 20. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve are thermally insulated.
 21. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the garment includes an exterior surface that defines a camouflage pattern.
 22. A method for disrobing a garment without removing body armor, the garment comprising a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a chest piece joined to the first sleeve and the second sleeve, the method comprising: separating the first sleeve from the chest piece and sliding the first sleeve off of an arm of a wearer; splitting a seam located on the chest piece to open the chest piece; sliding the chest piece out from under the body armor; and removing the chest piece and the second sleeve by sliding the second sleeve off of an arm of a wearer. 